The River, like no other...
It journeyed through time and space...
leaving behind a carefree impression as it wandered
directionless, seemingly without purpose,
following and unstructured course.
Yet, I have to wonder... was it going somewhere?
Was it rushing off in feverish pursuit of its final
destination... perhaps in anticipation of a heavenly
reward at the end of its exhausting quest?

Or was it fleeing from some place... some thing...
swiftly moving like a fugitive constantly on the run,
in horrific fear of stopping? Did it gain speed as its
load was increased by daily trials and tribulations...
gathering bits of "extra baggage" along the way;
causing it to get farther and farther from its place
of origin? And did the turbulent river pause only
briefly to "catch its breath" before hurrying off again?

Or maybe the river was adamantly searching...
diligently sifting through the unnumbered sands for
something priceless? Maybe, by upsetting every
pebble and disturbing everything in its path, it would
somehow hope to find what it was rummaging for.
Maybe it was looking for love... or life... or meaning?
And then I question, if in its haste,
did it ever stop to look up from its tedious work...
pausing even for a moment to gaze towards the
comforting warmth of the heavens?

Or quite possibly it was simply the faithful servant...
steadfast and loyal in its existence... nourishing
and bringing life to everything in its unguided path.
Maybe it was clearly content at being the earth's
main artery of life... and never hoped for anything more.
Perhaps... its only earthly wish...
...was to exist... and befriend nature.

06/01/2001

Author's Note: This isn't really a "poem" but it's actually an excerpt from my book. I organized my poems in the simile of a river and used this piece as an intro to the chapters.

Posted on 03/21/2003
Copyright © 2024 Rhodora M Fitzgerald